Defense steals show in spring game, Leavitt, Skattebo shine

(Photo: Marina Williams/WCSN)

TEMPE — In college football, a program’s spring game is an opportunity for fans to not only get a first look at next fall’s squad, but for coaches to gauge how far their team has came since the beginning of spring practices. On Friday, Arizona State football held its own version of the annual event, its second under head coach Kenny Dillingham.

Much like last year, the event’s schedule included standard team periods of 11-on-11 action, but also featured various other competitions, such as the 1-on-1 competition, kicking competition and punt block competition intended to make the game more lighthearted. Overall, the Gold team defeated the Maroon team 50-46, but Gold took the scrimmage by a score of 12-6.

There were several things that fans and coaches can take away from Friday’s contest. But most importantly, ASU displayed a competitive edge across the entire evening that gave Dillingham optimism for next season.

“Our kids are going to compete,” Dillingham said. “That’s going to be the identity of our team. We’re not going to quit, these guys that we’ve signed love football… That was a miniature scrimmage with some fun things before, and I actually thought they had great energy, great juice. The competitive fire was there.”

Last year, Dillingham set a bold attendance goal for the contest, challenging fans to fill up 40,000 seats at Mountain America Stadium. After that objective wasn’t met, he didn’t list a specific goal for this spring. About 3,000 fans took in the matchup on Friday, and brought energy throughout the night.

“Hopefully, the more we win, the more people come out here and support,” Dillingham said. “I thought it was a really good vibe by the fans, and I think there were more people here than last year, so it shows the belief in the process.”

Here are four takeaways from the 2024 spring game.

Skattebo Impresses Again

In last year’s spring game, then-junior running back Cam Skattebo gave fans in Tempe a first taste of his hard-nosed, physical style of play. He put together multiple energizing runs and showcased potential to be a workhorse power back for the Sun Devils in 2023.

Soon after the season began, it became clear the Rio Linda, Calif. native was as advertised. Skattebo proved a dangerous lead back for ASU, rushing for 788 yards on the ground and punching in nine touchdowns, and also demonstrated an ability to be effective in the receiving game with 286 yards and one score through the air.

Fast-forward to this year’s spring game, and Skattebo once again put together a strong performance in the scrimmage for the Gold Team. On his squad’s opening drive of the day, he followed up a hard-nosed run that saw him break multiple tackles with a touchdown run, punctuating it by backflipping in the end zone to cap off a quick two-play series.

Later in the scrimmage, after redshirt sophomore wideout Jordyn Tyson was brought down on the 1-yard line on a big connection with redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt, Skattebo’s strength was utilized again as he punched in his second touchdown of the day on the next play from scrimmage.

At the conclusion of last season, Dillingham said he wasn’t sure if Skattebo was a “Sunday guy”, questioning whether or not his No.1 running back could make it to the next level. However, midway through the spring season, he confidently told Skattebo he was a Sunday guy, and that sentiment was confirmed again on Friday.

When asked about how he’s changed from last season to now, the running back’s answer was simple, as he highlighted his desire to make the 2024 campaign a winning one.

“(My) mindset,” Skattebo said. “I’m ready to work and ready to win football games.”

– Sean Brennan

Defense Benefitting From Experience Gained in 2023

Since taking the job at ASU — his alma mater — in October 2022, Dillingham’s No. 1 mission has been establishing a winning culture in Tempe. The new head coach didn’t experience many victories in his first campaign on the sidelines, with the Sun Devils posting a 3-9 2023 campaign. However, what he did succeed in is laying the foundation for what a winning program should be, targeting players who

Last season also benefited a relatively young defense that had many inexperienced players, providing them game reps, or at the very least, a year’s worth of Division I practice. On Friday evening, the increased experience was evident, as the defenses on both sides of the scrimmage excelled, forcing four total turnovers.

“I mentioned a lot of guys, a lot of returners, the guys that are really the culture builders in that locker room,” defensive coordinator Brian Ward said. “And those guys are really the culture builders in our position meeting rooms, too. So we may have brought in some guys that have played a lot of snaps for other programs, and they came in, and that experience and knowing how to prepare, along with the guys that came back, it just allowed us to take those steps further.”

While there are multiple transfers that look to be key components of ASU’s defense in 2024, Ward highlighted a large crop of returners that have helped set the tone this spring. Several younger players, like sophomore defensive back Keith Abney II and sophomore defensive lineman C.J. Fite have become more vocal during the spring, mainly thanks to gaining all-important experience during the program’s first year under Dillingham.

Of course, there will still be lots of room for improvement and it will take some time for a defense with several new names to hit its stride next season. However, having so many returners who know ASU’s system and culture will prove invaluable throughout the 2024 campaign.

“They just know what’s expected and what the standard is,” Ward said.

– Sean Brennan

Sam Leavitt stakes claim on Starting Role

In the first team period of the spring game, Dillingham set up each offense on the 25-yard line, simulating a redzone situation. The Gold offense was heading back onto the field after Skattebo scored the team’s first touchdown on the previous drive. Doing his best Skattebo impression, redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt broke outside the pocket, twirling through the Maroon defense and scoring on a 20-yard touchdown run.

However, as Leavitt, dressed in a black jersey to remind his teammates of his untouchable position as the quarterback, punched the ball into the endzone, redshirt freshman defensive back Montanna Warren raised his hands in frustration and yelled, ‘Yeah, we can’t touch that guy.’

It is a reminder to avoid romanticizing a quarterback’s spring performance. However, Leavitt entered spring in a competition with redshirt freshman Jaden Rashada, and he will exit the spring as the bonafide favorite to be starting against Wyoming in week one.

“Candidly, I mean, (Leavitt) came in and took the job,” new offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “We had Jaden, whoever else it was, it didn’t matter, but Jaden hadn’t had much practice. [Rashada] was hurt, came in, and Sam really was still carrying the flag. I think that that part of the competition was a foregone conclusion in some way.”

Dillingham has said that ASU will add another quarterback in the portal, and Nebraska transfer senior Jeff Sims visited Tempe earlier this week, but whoever they add will have an uphill battle against Leavitt. With the wind as wild as it was on Friday, Leavitt’s performance left a lot to be desired, overthrowing multiple wide open receivers.

“I couldn’t be more happy with his progression,” Dillingham said. “I mean, he completed over 70% of his balls during team periods of the spring. I don’t know my history, but we tracked coach Arroyo’s history and that was the best or one of the best (completion percentage) he’s had his career with quarterbacks. Kudos to (Leavitt), and we’re gonna keep getting better.”

– Sammy Nute

Defense Displays Dominance

While Arizona State might look a lot different on the offensive side of the ball, the defense is returning a lot of the core members. Last season, there were times when defensive coordinator Brian Ward’s crew was clicking on all cylinders. In Seattle, the Sun Devils held eventual National Championship runner-ups Washington to no offensive touchdowns.

However, with the move to the more physical Big 12 on the horizon, there was an honest question whether or not the ASU defense would display a high enough effort to compete. If the spring game is any indication, the Sun Devils should be in good shape, forcing four turnovers including multiple huge hits.

“There’s just so many guys that really stepped up and were fast,” Ward said. “You could see it tonight. I know this is a good team, and we have seen it all camp that we have been able to affect the football a lot more and disrupt the football a lot more. It’s led to some really good things for us.”

The most action-packed play of the night featured both a great offensive and great defensive play. Junior wide receiver Armon Collins caught a pass in the middle of the field and turned upfield with acres of open grass in front of him. However, in his blindside, junior defensive back Myles “Ghost” Rowser ran parallel to the goal line and laid Collins out at the one-yard line, forcing a fumble and a turnover.

The defense even displayed incredibly high effort on bad plays. On a blown coverage, Leavitt found sophomore wide receiver Jordan Tyson wide open. Tyson took off down the sideline and looked like he was going to walk in for a 50+ yard touchdown. Possibly upset he wasn’t able to make the touchdown saving stop on Leavitt earlier in the scrimmage, Warren took off down the field, doing his best DK Metcalf impression, tripping up Tyson’s feet at the one-yard line. Skattebo would eventually run it in for the one-yard score, but Warren’s effort didn’t go unnoticed.

– Sammy Nute